Hardwood floor recs (engineered, refinish, color, cleaning)

[Bass101]

We're looking to replace our hardwood floors. We don't want to refinish because we have a ton of squeaks and the color is too dark for our tastes anyway.

I have read a lot about the Bruce brand and it seems to be good. I've also been researching the differences between the species. We love the look and color of maple (we don't like seeing too much grain) but have read about some negatives with maple.

Red oak seems to be the best choice for us, though I'm not crazy about the grain or the color choices with red oak.

I'm interesting in hearing recommendations for brands of flooring and species choice.

We prefer a maple/cinnamon type color for the flooring. We are only looking at solid wood and not engineered wood.

Thanks!

[lucknow]

I have had oak, maple, cherry, ash, pine and fir floors in my lifetime. My favorite is Oak. I have never had any kind of problem with oak floors but I have had one kind of problem or another with all the rest.
I think the biggest consideration in Hardwood flooring is the colour. Many people today are putting in floors that show every single little mark. In my last home before this one I had the entire house in a mid brown maple. What a major PAIN those floors were. I ended up walking around the house with a swiffer all the time just to avoid the footprints on that blasted floor. When I stopped in to see the new owners that bought the house from me, they said, "WE love everything about this house but we think there is something wrong with the floors". They loved the floors when they viewed the house because I had spent hours cleaning them down on hands and knees.

The house I have now is all natural red oak. If I did not clean those floors for days and my dogs and granchildren were bringing in all kinds of dirt and debris you can not even see it. The floors can look good and yet I can sweep up a whole dustpan of stuff off of them.

My sister put in natural rustic maple and they are the same for not showing any marks. They are beautiful floors I must say.

[Pitt Chick]

I'm like lucknow.... loving my natural red oak!

[Padgett2]

Have you thought about having the floors sanded and stained? The reason I asked was that in one house I had, the floors were light oak, but the large den was paneled in a beautiful cypress. It was a horrible contrast.

However, the guy that did my floors said he could use a stain that would blend with the cypress tone. He did. And it was just lovely!

[dspguy]

If you were to tear up and replace... I went with Premium Green Strand Woven Bamboo. Before I purchased a pallet, I took the test sample and beat the ever loving you-know-what out of it. I compared it to some other hardwoods. I could not damage this thing without going out of my way to damage it with a razor blade or sharp end of a screwdriver and putting all my weight on it.

But, the look isn't for everybody. But, its a solid piece of wood (not just a top layer of wood on engineered wood). Easy to work with a lay down too.